PSA: Voile ski pack, shovel, probe $75 at REI through tomorrow (Sun)

TurxSki mentioned this in another thread but I figure it deserves its own, since it's a screaming deal for anyone who doesn't have all their avvy gear yet. Sale ends tomorrow, so jump on it.

REI has a Voile ski pack with Telepack aluminum shovel and 260cm probe , all for $99.99. I fondled one today at the store and it's an excellent pack for skiers: diagonal ski carry, shovel/handle/probe/axe/etc. in the rear compartment (the picture shows the probe strapped to the side but this is wrong), front compartment opens to the strap side so you can get your stuff out with skis on, and a clean carry without a bunch of straps hanging off to catch on stuff. It's bigger than it looks in the picture...they claim 2400ci. The whole thing is 5#, which puts the pack at about 2#10oz.

The shovel is very good: telescoping, aluminum blade, big enough to be useful. The probe is not full-on pro patrol level, but it's good: aluminum with a cable and depth markings.

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

Add three sticks of P-Tex ($3.50) and you can use the WMXY25 $25 off code.

Add this to the $200 Barryvox, also at REI, and you've got a full avvy setup for $275, which is about what you'd normally pay for a beacon. If you're thinking of going BC at all in the future, this is the best deal you will find. (You could troll Ebay for a year and pay about the same for sketchy used junk. If you're going to be digging for me, I want you to have a shiny new digital beacon.)

That is a ridiculous deal. Unfortunately I replaced most of my old sketchy gear a few months ago :(

man this looks like a schweet deal. anyone know what size reservoir i should buy? would it take a 100oz? or just a 70?

thanks

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Originally Posted by squirrelmurphy

man this looks like a schweet deal. anyone know what size reservoir i should buy? would it take a 100oz? or just a 70?

thanks

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If the trip is less than 5h I use a 2 liter bladder (spring-skiing), of longer I opt for 3 liter bladder... On really long & arduous skinning trip (the whole day, no skiing, onroute to/from BaseCamp) I have both filled up, plus mebbe even that small 1 litel Platy-"bottle".

My name is Mitch and I have a problem. I am an impulse shopper.

Yeah. You guys have gotta quit posting all these cool deals. Now I'm seriously thinking of getting this and I don't even need it.

Would someone please help me.

But seriously, has anyone used this to carry full-sized skis? It looks too small/fragile/flimsy to me. Any pictures of this pack with skis on it? I couldn't find any.

I think that might be a bit of an illusion, especially if they're claiming 2,400ci. Also, if you look where the shoulder strap comes up to on the pack it looks like the pack has to be bigger than it appears. On a small pack (such as my DaKine Heli Pro) the straps come all the way to the top of the pack itself whereas it looks as if this pack extends above the shoulderline. In appearance almost looks to be the same dimensions as my DaKine but the Heli Pro is only rated at 1000ci. Even if this thing is really only 2,000 I'll be more than happy since I find myself quickly running out of room in my current pack with only shovel, probe, lunch and some water. If I want to shed layers I have to rock the "tied around the waist" look or cram them into an extra strap somewhere on the pack.

http://www.facewest.co.uk/pp/dakine/...iPro-Green.jpg
Compared to a slightly older AvyTool backpack from Voile:
https://secure17.worldaxxs.net/ssl.v.../avytool_2.jpg

Spats, thanks for the heads up. I've been shopping for avvy gear for months, I've been bidding on used stuff on ebay, but now thanks to your post I've got a complete brand new set-up that'll be delivered next Monday for 297.98!!! I haven't done any back country skiing yet, but with this gear, skins, trekkers, and the Avvy level one class that's being offered here in January I'll feel prepared to start getting some experience, accompanied of course by my experienced and avvy-savvy friends. Thanks again!!!

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Originally Posted by Endlessseason

But seriously, has anyone used this to carry full-sized skis? It looks too small/fragile/flimsy to me. Any pictures of this pack with skis on it? I couldn't find any.

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I went to REI and it's a lot bigger than it looks...it's wider and taller than any of the Dakine packs (but thinner front to back) and can carry a lot of crap. The ski carriers use the same webbing as every other ski pack in existence...I wouldn't worry about them.

Today is the last day...jump on it if you're on the fence. Being REI, you can always return it, and you can probably sell the components for more than you paid.

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Originally Posted by Spats

Today is the last day...jump on it if you're on the fence. Being REI, you can always return it, and you can probably sell the components for more than you paid.

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convinced me... trigger == pulled

Thanks for the heads up on this deal. My roomate just pulled the trigger on both the pack combo and the beacon.

Thanks, all.

Done. You had me at "you can always return it."

yeah, i got this and the barryvox, what a deal.

Bumping because it's Monday and the deal is still good. So is the WMXY25 $25 off code, through 11/2.

Note that the website won't let you use the code more than once, but if you call in an order they'll usually do it for you.

However, the Barryvox is back up to $300.

Bump because it's Thrusday and the deal is still good!

Just got my pack today and it is indeed much larger than it looks in the picture. Also the shovel is very high quality and I'm happy with the probe too. The ski carry looks good both A frame and diagonal. I'm pretty sure that I could pack my down jacket, lunch, water and a few other essentials in this pack with a little room left over. There are two seperate compartments, one for the avy gear and another general gear pocket. The gear pocket unzips all the way around the back of the pack allowing some easy access to anything in your pack and is also accessible when skis are being carried A frame on the sides.

Overall impression: Hell of a deal for under $100.

Sounds good. Glad I got one for me, and one for Cinders (and barryvoxes)

You've got to wonder what the JONGs on the slope are going to make of seeing all these peeps wearing the same blue backpacks :smile:
Have to make up some kind of story ! Contains a Heater ? BC Espresso machine ? Club Crazy-Snow-Freak uniform ?
Any Ideas ?

I also got 2 and 2 barryvoxes for my brother and I.

I just hope the red backpack gang doesn't hit me with a ski by snowball.

Picked up my pack/shovel/probe today. Stoked! High quality gear for sure.

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Originally Posted by TurxSki

Sounds good. Glad I got one for me, and one for Cinders (and barryvoxes)

You've got to wonder what the JONGs on the slope are going to make of seeing all these peeps wearing the same blue backpacks :smile:
Have to make up some kind of story ! Contains a Heater ? BC Espresso machine ? Club Crazy-Snow-Freak uniform ?
Any Ideas ?

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Just thought I'd mention...the pack I received has inverted colors from the pic earlier in the thread...mainly black with blue highlights.

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Originally Posted by Vicious

Just thought I'd mention...the pack I received has inverted colors from the pic earlier in the thread...mainly black with blue highlights.

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Phew, so no Crips vs Bloods, on the slopes, after all !
Dodged that bullet :wink: All those Gangsta 'boarders sitting around, you can't be too careful
O-G Dawg ! Yor babies daddy a german shepherd...
...and black goes with anything :cool: